Becoming a Champion Track Athlete - Beyond the Basics

• Great instructional series for track and field athletes
• Cutting edge technique instruction
• Drills to improve every track and field skill

with Ken Harnden,
Florida State University Assistant Coach (Sprints);
2005 NCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year (Sprints)

Ken Harnden takes athletes to the next level in our latest addition of our best selling Becoming a Champion instructional DVD series.

Coach Harnden begins with an 11-exercise functional warm-up that incorporates flexibility and prepares the muscles and joints for the rigors of sprint training. The warm-up leads into hurdle drills where Harnden takes you through six drills that are critical areas for developing sprint mechanics.

In Part 3: Block Starts, Harnden offers a technical breakdown for all aspects of the start that include proper block placement, "take your mark positioning" and for the set position. Harnden shares positioning cues to assure proper arm and shoulder alignment, as well as checks for proper leg positioning, all of which are essential for a successful transition from the start into the drive phase. Harnden also covers the essentials of the drive phase that covers the first 25-30 meters of the sprint. In Part 4) Sprint drills, Harnden shows drills to train the sprinter to transition from the shorter steps of the drive phase into the longer strides as the distance of the sprint increases.

In Part 5) Sprint strategy, Harnden demonstrates invaluable performance tips from the blocks through the finish of a race. He also touches on the proper technique for the 4x400 and 4x100 relay exchanges. Harnden closes with weight room exercises, breaking down the specifics of three Olympic lifts along with a 4-exercise stability ball routine. These help develop both explosive power and core strength, essential for sprint success.

30 minutes. 2007.

with Mike Holloway,
University of Florida Head Track & Field Coach

Coach Mike Holloway is one of the most respected sprint and hurdle coaches in the sport and in this 3-part presentation he shares with you technique, tactics and drills to help you take your hurdling to the next level. Coach Holloway has a firm belief that the warm up is a key factor in hurdle training and success.

In part 1, Holloway shares an 11 exercise routine specific to hurdlers that assist in not only warming the body but also loosen the hops and back in preparation for technique and drill training.

In part 2, Hurdle technique, Holloway discusses strategic essentials for getting to the first hurdle, emphasizing his slow to fast philosophy that applies to running the hurdles. He also shares the basics of the start with detailed specifics for block placement and how to get out of the blocks with good explosiveness while maintaining a focus on sustaining good ground contacts and carrying a sprint form. Holloway next demonstrates how to target and attack each hurdle while keeping a good flow and rhythm, allowing the runner to finish strong.

In part 3, Hurdle Drills, Holloway shares seven drills to develop hurdle technique along with how to improve through training both the dominant and non dominant lead leg.

To conclude the presentation, actual race footage is shown to demonstrate how the technical and drills presented fit into the actual race.

24 minutes. 2007.

with Dennis Nobles,
Florida State University Assistant Coach (Jumps);
2003 Women's National Assistant Coach of the Year (Jumps)

Dennis Nobles utilizes two former All-American athletes to demonstrate the finer points of the long jump.

In Part 1 of this presentation, Coach Nobels shares Long Jump Menchanics. Nobels begins with a thorough explanation of the biomechanical challenges through turning the body into a projectile off of the runway sprint. He next reviews three "distance determinants" that are essential to understand for maximal jump performance. Nobels shares his mantra of on task, on time and on target to describe the importance o

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